Design School: Creating Shady Garden Nooks

Nook. Just the word conjures images of small, secluded, sheltered little retreats for getting away from it all and just enjoy being outdoors among the plants. Always a place of desire, shady nooks are extra seductive in high summer when the garden beckons, but the heat makes you think twice!

A shady garden nook can made to serve a defined purpose (such as dining, reading, working), but it can also be somewhere you would like to hide out for a bit. It can be planned, designed, and fully built and executed, or simply carved out of a random space to where you might naturally gravitate.

The best shady garden nooks are surrounded by plants that help to shade and cool, are unfussy and easy to maintain, and have comfortable seating. Here are some tips to help you envision your own little corner of heaven.

Nook Necessities

Some amount of shade.

Lots of leafy plants (of course, flowers are nice too!)

Comfortable seating.

Private but with easy access.

Add a "Roof"

Under an arbor, pergola, or the canopy of a large, leafy shade tree, nooks feel best when there is a sense of enclosure. Here are three examples where designers took advantage of the existing space to create a soothing place to hang out.

Upper Left: Designer Jessica Helgerson carved a little nook-sized dining space just off the kitchen and added vining plants like climbing Hydrangea (H. petiolaris) to create a cool, calming space. A free-standing arbor would have the same effect. Just be sure to site it a bit off the beaten track.

Upper Right: Designer Gina Funaro managed to create a cozy, small, and intimate sit-a-spell place by adding a clematis-festoon pergola at the edge of a bed. Imagine the sunsets!

Left: Can a “nook” be in the wide open rather than nestled into a secluded space? Why not. This sturdy swing hung on a rope from a mature tree feels like a world apart–the very definition of the concept. (Don’t worry about finding the exact swing–just steal the idea!)

Add Some Plants

Some nooks are truly hidden in deep greenery while others are a bit more within view. Wherever in your yard you can chill, catch your breath, and be one with your plants is plenty nook-ish!

Left: Here the designer used the no-man’s land often found under mature trees which cannot easily be planted to craft a secluded seating space.

Lower Left: Designer Jennie Fitch used a short curved wall to make a seating nook cooled with a Japanese maple and other shade plants.

Lower Right: Being knee-deep in plants can create a special sort of vibe. This bench takes advantage of a curve in the path.

Make the Most of What You Have

If you have the time and budget it’s always a dreamy option to plan and build a private space. If not, take a look around your yard and home for options, and refer back to the basic 4 needs above to make it work.

Upper Left: Carter Rohrer Design tucks a few chairs in a leafy-green bower at the edge of wooded area. Any patch with dappled shade is a great place for a nook.

Upper Right: No garden? Walls on the north side of the house cast welcome shade for a nook that’s dim, cool, and likely avoids street noise.

What a lovely idea. So many of the great images we show are actually shared with us by the designers who do their best to tell us the names of plants and sources of hardgoods but it’s not a perfect science!

If you ever have a specific question about something you see, please do drop me an email and I will do my all to get the information for you. Best, Kate

Hi Susan–climbing hydrangea can be slow to get going, creeping along for the first few years. Just when you’re ready to give up, it’ll suddenly take off. How long it would take to cover a structure is dependent on many factors such as soil, water, light, etc. Not knowing your situation, I would estimate 5 – 7 years but it would be best for you to speak with your local garden center for the best local advice. If you need helping finding one, please to let me know. Best, Kate

My husband created a nook under shade trees that were already in our yard . it is circular with shrubs and hostas,ferns and other plants surrounding two chairs on a patio. In the center of the brick patio is a mill stone that was found hidden on our farm.

Love these nooks. I made a shady nook UNDER my east-facing deck (deck is 6ft off the ground). Hanging vines and plants trail down from the sides or through the slats in the deck floor above. Use a trellis or two on side(s) for privacy with climbing plants. Surround the space with in-ground plants and container shrubs, etc. Hang a wind-chime or two and add your favorite garden decor along with a couple of comfortable chairs and cushions. This is my church!

we Live on a farm in southern Alberta, 50 km north west of Lethbridge and about 150 km south of Calgary, I would like to transplant 3 peonies from one side of my yard , they are now on the west side of a house in full shade, where ( as far as light & sun) should I move them too & when?